Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Saturday that Pakistan is facing enormous challenges, both in conventional and sub-conventional domain, in a high-tech battlefield environment, involving inventions and innovations offered by science and technology. While addressing the passing-out parade of the 137th PMA Long Course, 8th Mujahid Course and 56th Integrated Course at Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, the Chief of Army Staff while addressing the officers said, "The future wars and challenges will put your abilities to test in upholding and carrying forward the fine traditions of this great institution to the hilt."
General Bajwa said that the route to peaceful resolution of Pakistan-India disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir, runs through a comprehensive and meaningful dialogue. "While such dialogue is no favor to any party, it remains the inevitable precursor to peace across the region. Pakistan remains committed to such a dialogue, but only on the basis of sovereign equality, dignity and honor," he said.
The CoAS said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and it seeks harmonious and peaceful coexistence with all countries, especially its neighbors. "However, this desire for peace must not, in any sense, be construed as a sign of weakness," he warned. "Our valiant armed forces are fully prepared to respond across the full spectrum of threat in a befitting manner," he added.
"I also take this opportunity to express our complete political and
moral support to the basic right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Those peace-loving innocent citizens are being subjected to one of the worst forms of state terrorism," the Army Chief added. He further said that it is high time for the world community to wake up and play its positive role to bring peace to that unfortunate part of the sub-continent.
He said Pakistan is also committed to peace and intra-Afghan reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan at all bilateral and multilateral forums. "We sincerely believe that there will be no peace in Pakistan if there is no peace in Afghanistan. Our peace is linked; therefore, we must work in unison with our Afghan brothers to achieve this goal," he said.
"Moreover, we have done our part to cleanse Pakistan of the scourge of terrorism and extremism without any distinction and our efforts have started to bear results. We are committed to continuing these efforts, not out of any compulsion but to make Pakistan a safe, prosperous and progressive country," he added.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Pakistan Armed Forces are the custodians and upholders of this resolve - a resolve that is evident in the sacrifices of young men and officers. He called upon all the stakeholders within the region and beyond to let give peace a chance.
He said that Pakistan has totally rejected extremism and terrorism. "We also refuse to be pulled asunder on issues of sect, ethnicity, caste or creed," he said. He said that the diversity of Pakistan is its strength stating, "The very resilience of Pakistan comes, not just from our military capacity, but from the synergetic mix of the people who have come together, willingly towards a single purpose."
He said that Pakistan's enemies know that they cannot beat it fair and square and have thus subjected it to a cruel, evil and protracted hybrid war. "They are trying to weaken our resolve by weakening us from within. Had it been any nation than ours, it would have disintegrated by now. But since we enjoy complete confidence and support of our nation, we have defeated every move of these inimical forces and will Insha Allah, continue to do so," he added.
The Army Chief reiterated that the Pakistani nation and its armed forces are totally united and focused towards their primary objective of eradication and elimination of terrorism. As a result of past and ongoing operations, he said, Pakistan has eliminated almost all organized terrorist presence and infrastructure from its soil. "We are now going after the residual and scattered traces of this menace under the banner of operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.
He said that Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is not merely an operation; it is a concept, a resolve and a commitment of the nation to eradicate tumult from its soil. "Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is guided by our collective resolve and belief that we will neither tire nor relent until the last terrorist is eliminated from our soil," he vowed. "Moreover, we are committed not to allow our soil to be used against any other country," he added.